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Январь 2012

Secure ID programs have never been more important to governments worldwide - and never have these programs been more complicated in terms of technology, implementation or system components.

When I was invited to provide a personal perspective on the acquisition of LaserCard and its assimilation into HID Global's Government ID Solutions business, I was struck by how timely the move has proven to be.

Even before LaserCard became part of HID Global, we were driving the transition from single-function, single technology ID credentials to multi-technology, multi-purpose authentication documents. Take the Saudi Arabia national ID card, which can accommodate border crossing, banking and access to government services; or Italy's Carabinieri (National Police) card, used for building entry, health and other transactional services including an emergency response mechanism.

We were very aware, even then, that while the cards and technologies we provided were at the heart of ID projects, they represented only a small fraction of each program.

Fast-forward a year, and the landscape is very different. As part of HID Global's Government ID Solutions business, we're a provider of the broadest portfolio of products, technologies and services in the business, and able to help governments move closer to the ideal end-to-end solution. The impact for customers and populations is enormous. In the case of Costa Rica's Foreign Resident Card, for example, we delivered tangible benefits including on-time and on-budget completion, enhanced border security, the virtual elimination of counterfeiting, protection against obsolescence and no system downtime during the life of the project.

We are now part of an interlinked yet unique set of systems, components and processes vital to the creation of highly secure government ID programs, whether vehicle registration, healthcare ID, or citizen ID. This makes HID Global's Government ID Solutions business a highly differentiated, cost-competitive and expert player.

No other organization can offer a more integrated solution, providing customers with a better experience because of the interoperability of our products and wealth of in-house expertise. Being able to provide a large slice of a Government project allows us to participate as a trusted provider, rather than a component supplier. Having experts from each field now aligned under the same brand raises our perceived value in the eyes of government purchasers, and we are able to get closer to these customers rather than operating through intermediaries.

We are now beginning to see not only larger opportunities, but also major selling advantages. It is a compelling value proposition for the customer, faced with an unimaginably complex project, to reduce the risk associated with integrating systems from multiple suppliers and instead select an organization offering end-to-end control and guaranteed interoperability of systems.

Governments can now turn to HID Global for their entire ID project. What a difference a year makes!

Cybersecurity has gained prominence on Capitol Hill since the launch of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative (CNCI) in January 2008. The current Administration has enhanced the CNCI, identifying cybersecurity as "one of the most serious ecnomic and national security challenges we face as a nation."

As part of the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative, the Administration has issued OMB 11-11 that addresses cybersecurity for Federal agencies, and has developed the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC). The NSTIC, in which HID Global has been actively involved, focuses on finding ways to better protect consumers from fraud and identity theft while protecting privacy. NSTIC's goal is to foster economic growth by enabling a more trusted environment in cyberspace.

HID Global is uniquely positioned to provide solutions for our nation's cybersecurity objectives, and we are among a select number of leading organizations that will be demonstrating some of those solutions on the Hill this week at the Congressional Internet Caucus Advisory Committee's 15th Annual Kickoff Reception & Technology Exhibition. The event provides Members of Congress and their staff the opportunity to test drive and understand technologies that are changing our lives and influencing Internet and technology policy in Washington.

As the largest technology exhibition on Capitol Hill, the event will provide a showcase for HID Global's cybersecurity technologies and services for citizens, government employees and government contractors. Our solutions have the potential to answer some of the most compelling policy issues the nation faces in cyberspace today.

The exhibition is also one of the largest policy networking events on Capitol Hill, bringing together Congressional staff, Administration officials, industry executives and public interest advocates. The exhibition attracts lawmakers and staff, reporters, and representatives from the government agencies and private sector organizations. It is open to the public and free to attend, and I would like to extend the invitation to security decision-makers interested in hands-on demonstrations of technologies that illustrate the public policy debates to be addressed in the second session of the 112th Congress.

In many organizations, visitors and contractors are documented by merely being asked to scribble their name in a paper visitor log. While this practice is perceived as quick and easy, it provides little or no security and can be viewed as unprofessional to those entering the facility.

To address the growing need for increased security throughout an organization, small businesses to large enterprises are implementing systems that automate the entire process of managing visitor access. As the pioneer of comprehensive visitor management solutions, EasyLobby's extended range of products include visitor registration, tracking, reporting, badge printing, asset and package management, web-based pre-registration, access control integration, and employee/contractor time and attendance solutions.

Our products are tightly integrated with a wide variety of access control, human resources and other systems. And with HID Global's recent acquisition of EasyLobby, our large installed base and strong customer engagements will enable HID to broaden its offering to include trusted secure visitor management solutions for a wide range of applications.

Through the acquisition, the combination of EasyLobby products and Genuine HID solutions create a unique portfolio that will drive new and exciting opportunities for our mutual customers and partners worldwide. Stay tuned as I look forward to keeping you posted on new developments as EasyLobby and HID Global create an enhanced value proposition that the combined HID team can deliver to the market.

A couple of weeks ago, I discussed a handful of issues that I believe are at the core of understanding how access control products and solutions will be used moving into the New Year.

Some of these trends included the move to mobility, the convergence of physical and logical access control solutions and federal mandates that are fueling more robust personal identification security. This week, I'd like to share the remaining five important issues that I believe will significantly influence how end-users, enterprises and government organizations will use security identity solutions in 2012. These are:

1. The emergence of wireless locksets. Wireless intelligent locksets connected to traditional physical access control systems will become more prevalent as lower cost, more energy-efficient models are introduced to the market. Additionally, these same locksets may help state and federal agencies meet PIV authentication requirements.

2. Increased use of outsourcing. We are seeing a continuation of the trend to outsourcing services as more end users look to software-as-a-service (SaaS) and Web-based access control solutions provided by both traditional physical access control and IT channel providers. This trend extends to badging services, which are offered via Web-based portals that provide a simple and secure way for customers to upload and communicate data, photos, and other information while reducing the cost and complexity of maintaining and operating a corporate-wide badging infrastructure.

3. Growing focus on integrated access systems. As a manufacturer of a large number of the devices used in integrated access control systems, HID Global is increasingly relied upon for products that are standards-based, open, and interoperable. US government mandates are driving standard-based protocols for use in integrated systems, where the integration recommended by FICAM and SP800-116 will shape systems for some time to come.

4. Rapid growth in vertical markets. The commercial industry was the fastest growing market for these products in 2010, but the government sector saw the most rapid growth in 2011. This is because of new mandates and legislation affecting US agencies. Other governments are taking their lead from the US, the UK, France, and potentially the Netherlands.

I welcome your opinion on the top 2012 issues I've highlighted over the past two weeks. Please let me know your thoughts by participating in the poll below.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="//www.hidglobal.com/%3Ca%20href%3D"http://polldaddy.com/poll/5806337/">http://polldaddy.com/poll/5806337/"&amp;amp;gt;Which of following trends will have the greatest impact on the access control industry in 2012? (select one)&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

I am pleased to share with you the news that HID Global has acquired EasyLobby, a pioneer and leading provider of comprehensive visitor management solutions.

The combination of HID Global and EasyLobby will complement and extend HID Global's portfolio of trusted solutions for the delivery of secure identity.

This acquisition delivers a number of potential synergies across various HID Global segments including Physical Access Control, Secure Issuance and our recently formed Managed Services business. EasyLobby brings us a robust and scalable visitor management systems and software expertise that will enable us to continue meeting the demands of our customers. As of today, EasyLobby will operate independently within HID Global's Identity and Access Management business.

In the weeks and months ahead, HID Global will be telling you more about what this acquisition brings to the Genuine HID ecosystem. We continue our commitment to delivering superior value to our customers. The addition of EasyLobby's innovative solutions will help drive new opportunities for your business in the coming years.

Please see our recent press announcement about the acquisition. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your HID Global sales representative.

As always, we appreciate your business, and thank you for your continued confidence in HID Global.